tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72169944235841944342018-03-06T16:21:15.765-05:00The Unknown Cashiercomments to: theunknowncashier@gmail.comThe Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.comBlogger205125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-42181468503773507312015-01-08T08:59:00.002-05:002015-01-08T08:59:37.408-05:00So the question is . . . . Again. Where have you been?Had the tests done, got the x-rays, pre-op completed, doctors consulted, poked , prodded and what have you.<br /><br />Had my left knee replaced on Tuesday February 18th, 2014. All went well and was dismissed on Saturday the 21st. Then re-admitted on Wednesday February 26th when I came down with a massive infection in that leg. I was in rough shape. I ended up having a Pic line inserted which takes the antibiotics right into the heart for faster dispersal.<br /><br />I was only going to be on the device originally for 6 weeks. Ended up carrying around a pump and having to have a nurse come to the house for almost 3 months ! ! ! !<br /><br />But in spite of everything I survived. I was in danger of having to have the device removed, being packed with antibiotics right on the bone, then another joint put in. And if that didn't work I was in danger of losing my leg.<br /><br />Work hard at recovery? You Betcha ! ! ! ! ! !<br /><br />My first day back at work was July 29th. A total of 23 weeks off work. Most of it dealing with that infection. I still have not got the ALL clear, but where I was seeing him every other week to check up on it and weekly blood tests etc., it has now been since the end of August that I saw the surgeon and still don't see him until the 4th of March.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">WOO HOO</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div style="text-align: left;">Work has been work. I came back to a new computer system which although probably good I still have some misgivings about it. It seems to me to be better for the store but not the cashier or the customer. What used to take two or three keystrokes can now take as many as eight to do the same thing. Plus the scales can't seem to keep up with our keying in.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Also have had several suggestions from customers that they would like to see a cash only lane, especially, an express one. Good idea and I'll try to bring it up to someone at the store, but its like talking to a wall sometimes. They are big whigs and what could a lowly cashier know about running a store?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I firmly believe we have got to start putting our efforts into customer service. The large store near us is more expensive and doesn't seem to treat their customers very well. WE can fill that niche of excellent service by treating them better and most importantly getting them out of the store fast when they are done shopping.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We are always told that the cashier is the last person they see. And to abide by the ten foot rule (customer within 10', greet and smile). That's all well and good but if they stand in line forever because we don't have enough cashiers or because the ones we <i><b>do</b></i> have working are wandering around somewhere and not at their registers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is far too much of that going on in my opinion. Especially on express. That lane is to be kept open at all times! You can wander a little way away but you <u>must</u> be there for a customer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then I heard the other day that this new (again) boss thinks that there are too many hours on the front end ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ? ? ? ? ? </div>The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-89504422085011792762014-09-29T05:28:00.003-04:002014-09-29T05:28:34.104-04:00What's new at the store<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;">This post was originally to be published in mid December of 2013. Due to various tests etc in preparation for my second knee replacement, it got missed.</span></span><br /><br /><br />So yesterday I show up for work and there are about five buggies lined up at the customer service desk and they're full of bread and crackers and all kinds stuff. Turns out that there's a show going on at one of the centres near us and they chose our store to buy supplies. They had been in the night before two or three times, morning and in the afternoon. And last night when I was there they came in one more time and thus ended up spending over $9000 on groceries in two days.<br /><br />They bought napkins as well as water, several cases of pop, several bags of chips, fruit trays, vegetable trays; all kinds stuff to host a party. I'm not sure who they were feeding but they had morning stuff and they had afternoon stuff and they had nighttime stuff.<br /><br />I heard that that pretty well-made our sales for the whole week so I hope that bodes well for the store.<br /><br />The rumors going around are still unclear. We're still not sure what's going to happen to us. The other stores in the area don't know what's happening, it would be nice to hear what the results will be when all is said and done. By other stores I do mean ones in our chain and not the enemy. <br /><br />No one knows whether our store is going to be one of the ones to close or to be converted to another type of store. The good news is according to the scuttlebutt, the property our store sits on is owned by the company. It's a rather large piece of property so it's valuable and it can probably hold a couple of apartments, or a row of town homes, or a strip mall. It doesn't make any sense for them to sell the property just yet or to get rid of the store.<br /><br />We'll find out what happens. But it seems like everything else that happens in the industry will probably be the last second, and we'll be the last to know AND it will be a surprise to us.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><br />I'm finding it increasingly difficult to go into the store with any kind of enthusiasm. Some of the people that I work with can be kind of a pain. That's to be expected at almost any place you work though it is always harder working with women. For some reason they think they have to shoot somebody down, or be catty or whatever it is that women think they should do. They are such a pain to work with at times.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * * </div><br /><span style="color: red;">This part is written September 29, 2014:&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">What does any one gain by putting someone down?</span></span><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br />What does someone gain, by yelling at you in front of your peers AND customers about something inconsequential or even worse something important?<br /><br />I walked into work on a Monday morning to be told: "You took a U.S. $50.00 bill on Saturday!"</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">WTF ? ? ? ?&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">First off, I <b>know</b> that what was <b>meant</b> was that I took it in as payment, but to any of the customers standing nearby, it would sound like I stole it.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">What <b>really</b> pissed me off was the fact that, not only did I NOT take a foreign bill of that amount, (as we are not to take anything over a $20.00), but that I was accused of it and then when confronted, told "I didn't <i>accuse</i> you of it."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Did you EVER think of asking me? Did you ever think that because someone wrote a 'note' saying I did it that it must be true? </span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I mean, shit, I've worked there for seven years!!! I think I've learned one or two things along the way.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">And if nothing else, at least some respect. </span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-75816204371502035702014-09-29T05:05:00.002-04:002014-09-29T05:05:34.814-04:00Why I hate RutabagasIts only fair to keep your workplace clean. I mean people are buying <b>food</b> that they plan on <b>consuming</b>. And, yes, its theirs and how they handle it is their business. But, technically, its ours until they pay. That being said, we should always maintain as clean a surface as possible if for no other reason than it makes the belt and your immediate area look like you give a damn.<br /><br />I, personally, think it disgusting when I go to buy my groceries and the work space, conveyer belt especially, is messy looking. And heaven only knows what stains those are!? <br /><br />Spots on the belt and the scale drive me nuts. Milk is bad most meat and fish liquid should be wiped up ASAP. Luckily those <i>are</i> easy to clean up. But rutabagas. Some one had the bright idea to apply wax to those things.<br /><br />I have a brand new, high tech, ultra sensitive scale for weighing produce on. Rutabagas always behave very nicely on the belt, but put one of those creatures on the scale and if it moves in the slightest, you have a wax mark on the glass. <b>I </b>know what it is, but the customer doesn't. So it becomes my mission to get that wax off there. It looks terrible from my side, and hopefully not as bad from their angle. But wax doesn't come off well with the types of cleaners provided for us to use. <br /><br />We need Elbow Grease. It takes a lot of it, but it will still work.<br /><br />Eventually. (thus the title)The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-46437993283939240892014-02-07T08:00:00.001-05:002014-02-07T08:00:21.101-05:00Man, I have GOT to get it together . . . . Lots been happening, both to your Unknown Cashier and around the store itself.<br /><br />Where we left off:<br /><br />"I'm getting ready to go and also getting pissed and grab my things to throw in a bag; and put a knitting needle right between the first and second finger of my right hand. It only went in a half inch or so, and it hurt but didn't bleed. That sort of had me concerned but what the heck and besides the cab is here."<br /><br />I try to make it bleed on the way there and at various times throughout the evening. I kept wiping it with the antiseptic sheets we have at each register.<br /><br />I get home from a harrowing day and go to bed dead tired. The next morning as I am getting dressed I notice this line up my arm. But also I see a wide red line heading towards the elbow. I know what it is so off to emergency with my hand having little spider lines of red radiating away from the hand, and the one large one heading to the north.<br /><br />THAT one concerns me. I was taken in my Mr. Unknown Cashier, and I told him it best to go to work and I'd call him if anything untoward happens. I waited around a little while but when they do come in to see me, I'm told right off the bat that its blood poisoning. Rather then keep me there they hook me up to an IV line. This is controlled by a pump that delivers the correct dosage over a few days. I had to change the bags myself when they were empty, but that wasn't too bad. That went on for three days and then I had to switch to oral antibiotics for another ten days.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *&nbsp;</div><br />So, as to the store:<br /><br />Not sure what they are up to there. The cashiers get trained and then stay for a couple of months or so. When the young ones find out that it is work they seem to want nothing to do with it. No, this does not, by any means, include everyone nor all <u>young</u> people.<br /><br />Too many of them stand at the register for only a few minutes at a time. Then they go wandering off somewhere, sometimes to return items, other times to socialize. I don't know how many times I have looked up to find myself the only cashier there. It really is annoying when they crouch down so they don't get seen. Sorry, they may fall for it but I don't. I'll just send you a customer. <br /><br />Other times I see them texting and drinking various fluids (which were NOT supposed to be&nbsp; allowed).<br /><br />I really feel like this store is on its last legs. They don't seem to care. I mean <i>really</i> care. The mood in the store seems to be more forlorn than anything. Like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Something's in the air but no one knows what. Now, this is MY opinion but that's what it feels like. Customers are having to wait longer, we have lost a lot of loyal customers. I'm sure that is because of the waiting in line when you are on your way home from work.<br /><br />More later.....The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-34644528775981071542013-12-01T07:28:00.002-05:002013-12-01T07:29:09.910-05:00So, once again, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN???<br /><br />I apologize for anyone reading who may have missed my unique form of writing. Its been a hectic fall.<br /><br />It was decently busy at the store and then things happened. On September 15th, I finally got an early Sunday morning shift. I was happy with that because you've got a shift in by noon and still have the rest of the day to do stuff.<br /><br />Well I was only there about 90 minutes when I started to feel pretty lousy. I honestly thought I may be having a heart attack. I felt like I wanted to throw up so asked to have someone cover while I went to the washroom. Nothing.<br /><br />I get back to the register, am there for maybe 20 minutes when I start to feel lousy again. I asked if they could get someone to cover for me. (Which sucks, you finally get what you wanted and you can't keep it.)<br /><br />Anyway, I headed for home and then asked my hubby to take me to the hospital. Long story short, it was a kidney stone. NEVER had symptoms like THAT before. So they decide to admit me on a short stay. That means you're there for 72 hours and you get better or they fling you into a ward.<br /><br />So off to my room I go about 11:30 at night. They keep checking on me because, as it turns out, my pulse rate is running at 42. Which is fantastic, if you compete in Triathlons.<br /><br />They determine, after 71 hours, that that must be normal for me and no blood tests indicate a heart attack. So on September 18th, off home I go.<br /><br />The following Wednesday, I get a call at 3:10 asking why I'm not there.<br />"Because I'm not scheduled."<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes you are." <br />"No. I'm not."<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, I'm looking at the schedule right now and it says you <b>are</b>."<br />"Well, <b><i>I'm </i></b>looking at the schedule right now and it says I'm <b>not</b>."<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, you must have seen it before it was ready."<br />"Uh, no."<br />&nbsp; "Well, we're stuck, its busy, and I have no one here."<br />"Well, its going to take me an hour to get there."<br />&nbsp; "Okay, then get here as soon as you can." <br /><br />So, I am thinking about the buses and decide to call a cab, seeing as its important that I get there. I'm getting ready to go and also getting pissed and grab my things to throw in a bag; and put a knitting needle right between the first and second finger of my right hand. It only went in a half inch or so, and it hurt but didn't bleed. That sort of had me concerned but what the heck and besides the cab is here.<br /><br />I try to make it bleed on the way there and at various times through the evening. I kept wiping it with the antiseptic sheets we have at each register.<br /><br />Later on they come to me to tell me because I was 'called in' I have the right to work the 4 hours.<br />An emphatic 'no' to that one.<br /><br />LONG ENOUGH. CONTINUED LATER TODAY<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-21129611388240554592013-08-06T07:31:00.005-04:002013-08-06T07:32:18.208-04:00Don't let your shopping end like thisSomeone sent this to me and I had to pass it on.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNDWN8KDVSM" target="_blank">Did you REALLY need that salt?</a><br /><br />Its upsetting, but we need to pay attention. And don't be afraid to do something.The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-7198274936756924802013-07-18T04:53:00.001-04:002013-07-18T04:55:21.371-04:00Any Ninja's looking for a part time job? Saw this the other day and asked permission to use it. The artist actually wrote me back personally and said yes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img alt="Express Lane" height="400" src="http://www.savagechickens.com/wp-content/uploads/chicken8orless.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><br />He only asked that I add a link to his page. I love his humour. Lots of stuff to do with cats too.<br /><br />http://www.savagechickens.com<br /><br />I have the next two days off as well as yesterday, which sucks in this kind of heat. I'd gladly work on these days. Only have an air conditioner in the bedroom and reading gets tiresome after a few hours.<br /><br />Oh well, its supposed to get nicer by the weekend. RAIN ! ! ! ! !<br /><br />It'll get rid of the humidity and pollution.<br /><br />We will return to your normal channel the next time I'm here.<br /><br />And this was post number&nbsp; <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">200 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! </span></div>The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-82549456662729274982013-07-14T02:39:00.003-04:002013-07-14T02:46:22.068-04:00This should be OUR motto. AND, being who you are !Saw a sign the other day. It expresses my philosophy on what our relationship should be with customers.<br /><br />"We take care of our customers or someone else will"<br /><br />How easy is that???!!!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><br /><br />Friday night was all by myself so I decided to go to the local 'Art Crawl'. I've heard of it before and sometimes seen the crowds while going past. But, <b>this</b> time, a friend had some of her pictures on display and I wanted to see them in a real gallery setting. Plus, I wanted to support her.<br /><br />So another friend picked me up at the house and off we went. Got pretty decent parking two blocks away and we walked back to have a look. We rounded the corner and there were people <i>every</i>where. It was almost impossible to walk on either sidewalk. You sort of had to jump into the flow, go along till you saw something and then you jumped out. If you were lucky you ended up on the gallery side and you were right there. Other times you jumped out on the street side and then had to hide behind a tree or something and wait until a space in the crowd became available and you forced your way across.<br /><br />Great atmosphere!<br /><br />Anyway, the reason I started this particular story is:<br /><br />I may have to start doing autographs ! ! ! ! ! <br /><br />I hadn't been there for more than ten of my 75 minutes on site, before a lady stopped me and asked where she knew me from. I mentioned the store name and she said 'That's right!!! I remember you as being the one who always makes me smile.' <br /><br />She was the first of <b>nine</b> customers that recognized me that evening ! ! ! !<br /><br />How cool is that?????!!!!<br /><br />To be 'famous' for who you are?<br /><br />I mean, I walked two blocks up the street and two blocks back down the other side and <i>that </i>many people 'knew' me? <b>That's one person every 8 minutes</b>! ! ! ! ! !<br /><br />Lets see a movie star top <b>that</b> in an atmosphere outside their normal one.<br /><br />Have a <b>GREAT</b> day ! ! ! ! !<br /><br /><br />The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-87756442639087348932013-07-12T18:18:00.000-04:002013-07-12T18:18:12.753-04:00Customers Are So Cool Sometimes . . . . . . You would have thought there was full moon today. I don't know how else to describe it. All kinds of 'different' people in the store.<br /><br />It was quiet at first so it was suggested I 'do something'. I cleaned all the registers, twice, and all the magazine racks once. Then it started to get busy.<br /><br /><b>Chapter one:</b><br /><br />I had some regulars and then one older lady who just seemed a tad off. The questions she asked were&nbsp; . . . . . . . . . . . . well, strange.<br /><br />She didn't seem to be all there. She wanted to know if I had coffee for her to drink. She made it sound like she thought that I had it at my register. I explain where it is and she goes off to explore. Twenty minutes go by and she comes to the end of my register and sits on the chair we keep there for a few of the older people to sit on when they are tired. She is right at the end where my customers exit and there is barely enough room for them to get by. She pulls out a container of soup and starts to eat it.<br /><br />She explains to me that she only got a half container of soup and I said she should have put it in the small container as I will have to charge her for the large one. She says she already paid for it. Now I did not know this and when she first came over to sit down it didn't appear like she had a bag. She had bananas in the top of the buggy and a sort of mess of purse with her and some kind of tag, turned backwards, around her neck.<br /><br />To be honest, she gave the impression of someone shy of the required number of cookies to make a dozen. She finishes off the soup and the next thing I see she is eating a self serve salad. As she had picked around the bananas I can now see a bag AND a receipt. I apologize for being rude to her. Several times, as I feel pretty bad about the way I talked to her.<br /><br />I go on serving customers and she starts to ask me innocuous questions. I am still serving customers and she is not really asking at the best time for me. I try to answer and eventually she ends up asking if there is a place to put the garbage. I said 'yes, in the garbage pail here' and I shove the bin out to the other side so she can put her stuff in there. I didn't want to touch it as it was all messy and I'm handling another customers groceries. She then turns and goes back through the register causing several people to have to move to accommodate her.<br /><b>end of chapter one</b><br /><br /><br /><br />Any who, it comes the end of my shift and I have a half hour to play with while I wait for my husband. So, off to get a few of the end of the week specials.<br /><br />As I'm going around the store I am greeted by three customers looking for information. I help them out and continue on the way to the register. I suddenly remember that I need teriyaki sauce for some beef jerky I am making. As I head into the aisle I hear two young men talking about how they need some soya sauce and they show up at the shelf at the same time. I showed them where it was and thanked them for reminding me that I needed sauce as well. <br /><br />One sees the uniform and says if I work here I must know all the dirty little secrets. I do the old 'look both ways to make sure no one is listening' , turn to tell them something 'witty' and draw a complete blank. So I just said "actually, there aren't any" to which they laughed. I did tell them about the blog though and they sounded interested in it. Lets see if they join!<br /><br />Gotta get that number up again ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! <br /><br /><br />Pictures make it pretty: A winter sunrise that looked like a fire as well.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s_C7-te41sY/UeCAgnAAYlI/AAAAAAAAAEY/3Lwzy3I9Yrg/s1600/Sunrise+or+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s_C7-te41sY/UeCAgnAAYlI/AAAAAAAAAEY/3Lwzy3I9Yrg/s320/Sunrise+or+Fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-28034518061946921832013-07-03T07:14:00.000-04:002013-07-03T07:14:22.752-04:00Ding Dong the Botch is Gone! !! ! ! Now we can get back to normal.<br /><br />I don't think it is right to go in a cash drawer when the cashier is no there. I don't care who you are. Unless you have at LEAST one other employee watching your hands how do I know what you have done? <br /><br /><br />She even changed it up that our cash drawer had 5 bundles of $100.00 each consisting of 4 tens and 12 fives. We hardly ever use tens. In fact I've heard that we often send them back to the Money Company Guys because we need more fives. (as an aside, I hope the next bill they turn into a coin is a ten not the five. We just don't use tens that often.)<br /><br /><br />You open a tray to start and your float consists mostly of coin rolls and few bills???? WTF. We weren't allowed to buy $60.00 worth of fives.May not sound like much, but after 6 years there you sort of learn how much money you're going to need and when. And the last Friday before a long weekend, you kinda need enough money to do cash-backs.<br /><br />Anyway, she's gone and know our 'new' head cashier can start to make the job her own. I'll keep you posted on that one.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><br />Had two separate occasions where I was dealing with an older customer and the customer behind had a comment about my treatment of them. Both on the same day!<br /><br />The first one was a lady who wasn't really keeping her money in a good place in her wallet. Too much cash was showing and it was all in one place. I gave her a few tips on that and she thanked me and left. When I apologized to the behind customer, he said no, that was all right and then told me I should have been a nurse. "The way I handled that was so caring!"<br /><br />Then later a lady came in with a couple of toddlers and a baby. The kids were behaving but the baby was getting a little fussy so I started to talk to him. He'd make these complain noises and I'd said I know what you mean. Then he'd make another sound and I'd have some other comment to make. He sure stopped fussing and listened to me like I knew what I was talking about.<br /><br />I love doing that with babies. The customer behind her told me I should have been a teacher.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><br />Oh yeah! And sometimes if I'm too early I'll sit out on the wall where our doors open and just greet the customers. I know so many of them so its quite fun to do and most times I get a chuckle and a thank you. But yesterday, I see this guy walking towards the store, fancy suit, WHITE shirt, clipboard and all official looking. Just a few days before we had had some big wigs in and everybody is running around like the Queen and the President have just come shopping. SO I sort of think this guy may be from head office and, never one to miss a chance to make a smile, I greeted him too. Well he looked a little surprised then gave a small, genuine chuckle and asked how I was. To which I replied "just terrific, thanks!"<br /><br />Lets see if anyone hears about <i><b>that</b></i> one.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><br />The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-10391074818872812942013-06-26T09:32:00.005-04:002013-06-26T09:39:31.762-04:00Do we not CARE about customers anymore??Worked Monday from 10:30 - 2:30. It was insane. Not only did some schmuck decide to do a backup on the computers, which kept taking different devices out, but we had only three people that could 'work.'<br /><br />When one of them went on her lunch there was just two of us out front. We ended with one girl on the second register having to take all the large as well as small orders and myself on express, with the 1 - 8 (yeah right) items. The first time we paged for a cashier we were told that the day's cash had just arrived. So...... No one can come out and treat customers with the respect they deserve? Might I point out the the Botch can do cash but does not come out to help. And besides, it doesn't take three of you to do that. No sense having cash if we lose all our customers due to lousy service.<br /><br />Then I paged because I can not STAND seeing customers having to stand in a big line up. Didn't even get an acknowledgement. Even when the cashier came back from lunch The first of four customers that transferred to my line asked me to page again, which I did, to no response. Again.<br /><br />Yes, lousy service. We have customers who come to our store because they 'always have' and because 'they like the size' and because they like a lot of the cashiers.<br /><br />But some of the complaints are that the store too often is out of something that is in the flyer.<br />Or even something that they have bought for a long time, suddenly not being there.<br />They want to know why we cater to the students to the detriment of the the older people who have kept this store going.<br />They comment on some management treating them rudely or like they are beneath them. <br />There are comments about trying to get a grocery item checked for price.<br />And especially the fact that there aren't enough cashiers. And enough pleasant ones either.<br /><br />In fact we had a mystery shopper in one day who wrote in her report about the cashiers talking too much to other cashiers. And not smiling or even acknowledging the customers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bad, BAD customer service.</span></b> </span></div><br />And one last thing. If you know we are busy out there why would you call on the bat phone to tell us why you can't come out or have we covered the shift for someone or something else. I don't care <b>why</b> you can't come out and help when we have ten or twelve people in line. I just care that you <b>don't</b>. If I don't answer after the second call then I am busy with my customers who come FIRST to me. I will call you as soon as I am done with the customer. We can be seen on the cameras when its time to tell us we aren't working, or we're slouching or something, so I'm guessing you know when we're halfway down the cereal aisle in customers.<br /><br />So, get off my back and let me do my job.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br />The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-52007266186617785242013-06-24T08:07:00.002-04:002013-06-24T08:08:04.808-04:00Wow, That Was RoughFriday was my first 8 hour day in roughly two years. My knee held up fine. It was rough but not nearly as bad as it used to be.<br /><br />Standing all that time wasn't a problem and the time went fairly fast. Till 2:45 or so. Then the clock stopped. But there was my hubby to pick me up right on time at 3:30. But the next day my back was SSSSSSOOOOOOO sore. It has just gone away after three days.<br /><br />Enough about me, for now.<br /><br />I have still not exchanged one word with the Botch. She does however wait until I am not at my tray and then cleans it out. I came back from break to find I had two twenties. I don't like having that small amount in case I need to do a cash back. I'm not allowed to borrow from another tray any more. So they want me to call them out instead when I need money?<br /><br />Plus they (well, she) has decided that our coin cups will all be rearranged. Loonies, quarters, dimes, nickels and an empty cup at the bottom and the toonies back up above. And also, why would you do that when the trays are not uniform anyway. Half the trays have the extra coin cup on the right; the other half on the left. When you're counting out change for your customers its nice to be able to do it fast and accurate. Having all the coins in one row makes it easy to do that. Each tray would be consistent. <br /><br />And now coupons go one place, air miles stickers somewhere else and the money-off coupons we are supposed to rip in half and throw out. And don't forget the coin star coupons which have a special place as well.<br /><br />Changes are fine if they make sense, but don't bring them all in at once. That is asking for mistakes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *&nbsp;</div><br />Ended up doing a tiny (2 second) spot on the news the other night. Been recognized by 8 customers so far. You'd think I was 'a star' the way they talked.<br /><br />Off to see if today brings any fun stuff today. Plus it was a full moon and that usually brings out the strange. And I will acknowledge that Monday was a really weird day in the store with all the glitches we had.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(what kind of idiot schedules a computer back-up during the day???)</b></div>The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-57214623227476108322013-06-22T04:23:00.000-04:002013-06-22T04:23:03.863-04:00The Botch Tries To TakeoverWe have a new character! ! ! !<br /><br />(The Diva will have to wait).<br /><br />So there has been a shift in the cash office. We have a new NHC (New Head Cashier) learning the ropes. Problem is, while there IS seniority there is NOT the knowledge of the job. Consequently the replacee was asked to do the training. To which she said "uh, NO!!!!" Can't say I blame her. She has done a marvelous job of running the store and everyone likes her. She is approachable.The replacor, now has a head cashier person (let's call her Botch) from another store showing her what to do.<br /><br />The problem in, that said 'head cashier' has quite the attitude on her. Apparently she is better than us. Or at least that is the impression she is giving off. Now, I don't like change any more than anyone else, but don't come on MY turf and start to tell me how to do MY job!<br /><br />I am hearing too many incidents of "well, at MY store, we do this....". Who cares, our store has a whole different dynamic, and is smaller. You can't come in and start doing this. That may be how your dictatorship works, but its not flying well here. You're not only messing with the new persons head, but now you're messing with EVERY cashier. Changing a system that works, for one like <b>you</b> want it to be, is not a good idea.<br /><br />There are things that the customer service cashiers (CSC) used to do that are no longer 'allowed'. These are things the CSC needs to be able to do in order to finish her job. Simple things like performing an audit on a tray. We need to have the printer part of the machine with them. Now they have to ask permission to use it. I have yet to see the new cashier come out and do cash. Botch says we don't need it out here.<br /><br />Botch also doesn't approach properly when asking for money for pickups. That's when we start to accumulate money in the tray exceeding the float by more than is necessary. I was at my register doing my job, when some woman comes up behind me, (this is before I have even met her) and says she needs my money. I turned around to look and didn't know who she was, but DID see the NHC so figured it was alright.<br /><br />But seriously, coming up behind someone, not even introducing yourself and then asking for money???? She's lucky I held back my initial reaction, which was to knock the breath out of the 'robber'. Well, how am I supposed to know who you are? Plus she starts to tell me how to do it! ! ! ? ? ? <br /><br />And what the hell is with changing the coin drawers so the penny compartment is back in play? Are you freakin' nuts? We have to make change in a hurry and suddenly YOU decide that that is how its done at YOUR store. You want our coupons all done a certain way, and the price reduced stickers done another way. Then we can not loan from one register to another. We can only get extra money from the cash drawer. Do you have any idea how long it takes to get someone to get to the service desk? Do you know <i>why</i> they take so long to getting there? Because now that hours have been cut,<i> yet again</i>, we have been operating with a skeleton crew in the daytime.<br /><br />Two days this week I was the only other cashier working. I was on a 'regular' register and someone on express. Two people to handle crowds.At several points on Monday I would have a lineup of more than eight people! ! ! ! We should only have three in a line before another cashier comes out to help. My store just seems to be concerned about ONE thing. That is customer service. I keep telling them that that is what will keep ahead of the competition.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />Please go back to your store.The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-90620872432595913522013-06-18T13:47:00.000-04:002013-06-18T13:47:03.901-04:00Wow, you go away for three months and have your knee replaced . . . . . . .and the way customers react you'd think you were gone forever. Gives you a nice feeling though to know that the customers you serve, that have to give you money for their food, are so happy to see you back.<br /><br /><br />OnFeb. 23rd I worked my last day for a while. Finally I was getting surgery on my knee. So on the 25th I was in the operating room sitting on the edge of the table and looking at all this paraphernalia that may or may not be going into or used on my leg. I tell you, if they'd have given me some premed and then I saw the way they were dressed I'd have suspected I was abducted by aliens. Or beekeepers.<br /><br />It was very interesting and I wish I'd had my camera. Saws and drills, nuts and bolts, gidgets and gadgets, glue and drapes, and tourniquets and hemostats!&nbsp; Plus I'd say at least ten people in there. And right off the bat the anesthetist disagrees with something the doctor wants to do. No fighting guys, still awake here.<br /><br />I stayed off work until the first week of May. The first day back I was so surprised at how easy it was to stand at the register for that long. I had not realized before then how much pain I must have been in. I blew through the four hours and no problems with the next day. Or the next shift either. The surgery has been such a success that I can now notice how bad the left leg was/is and wonder how it has stood up. It started to get more and more bothersome as time went on so that by my 12 week follow up I have signed up to get the left one replaced as well. Several reasons really:<br /><br />I'd forgotten how nice it is to walk any distance at all!<br />I want to walk straighter. Right now, because I was so used to favouring both knees I sometimes lose balance or weave when I walk. Sort of like a drunken sailor.<br />I am able to walk up AND down stairs and hills with hardly any problem.<br />I can also go down stairs frontwards again. (used to be backward as it puts a lot less strain on the knees)<br /><br />FOOTNOTE: Apparently the blogs should be shorter. It keeps people's interest better or something. So I will try to do that and I have a new list of characters that will be appearing periodically until they are fired or quit.<br /><br />Next time around: the Diva<br /><br /><br />The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-56079021808861347292013-01-01T07:29:00.004-05:002013-01-01T07:29:22.334-05:00When will the war start?Sometime earlier this year I came in to work to find two rather pleasant men demolishing #7 register.<br /><br />Now this poor register has never done anything to upset anyone. It has sat there faithfully waiting to be used since I've been there. I actually did see it used. Once. It was a Christmas about three or four years ago.<br /><br />The reason this register gave up its life and spot was because there is legislation that we have to be wheel chair accessible. Well the store is, but none of our check outs were. Now there have been wheel chairs come through the store and they have made it through the registers, but they have so far been the narrow, sleek ones. We would not have been able to get a regular, like you see in hospitals, wheel chair through. Also we have people that have double wide baby buggies that have to put their groceries up, go around the service counter and back to the other end of the register. There have been no complaints from them, but it is surely an annoyance.<br /><br />SO. The big plan was to make this spot extra wide. It involved quite a lot to get all of that 'stuff' out of there. Somebody in the metal collecting department made a lot. Anyway, while they are doing this I notice they have some tools capable of doing something that has bothered me for a while. I ask them if its possible to add some higher bag bracket shelves. Those are the little things that allow each person to adjust of the height the bags for themselves. He says he can get a couple done for me. He did this while his buddy was working on something else. In other words instead of standing around leaning on his shovel he did something nice for somebody! ! ! ! !<br /><br />I asked it be done to the two registers I tend to be at the most. Selfish I know, but no one else thought to ask and you gotta strike while the irons hot ! ! ! Or while the drill is in the store.<br /><br />I wish I could have got it done to all the registers as it is ergonomically a very good thing to do.<br /><br />Now if I can just get the registers turned in such a way that we move the arm back and forth as opposed to having them reach across our body, I will have really made progress.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">**This post has been sitting as a draft for a long time and I'm not sure why it didn't get finished. So its here now and there will be a few more showing up as I catch up on things.**</div>The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-48254254275349602612013-01-01T07:10:00.002-05:002013-01-01T07:10:14.256-05:00When last we left off . . . . .Sally Missing part 2:<br /><br />I named it that because of the reaction I got from customers both in our store and in other places that I would run into them.<br /><br />I'd be walking around somewhere else and someone would say hi, how are you and then follow it up with a 'where have you been?'<br /><br />To which I would tell them what had happened and then they'd ask questions etc. After that would be the 'we miss you, when are you coming back?'<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><br />Back to the story . . . . .<br /><br />As I explained I was in the hospital and they were checking me out. The gave me Tylenol, which they said would reduce the fever. Well, it did ! ! ! ! ! I know. I was surprised too. I never expected it to do that. So inside of a 1/2 hour my temp comes down, not right to normal but way better than it was before. Of course when this happens my brain is working a little better. I start to notice things. For example: the resident assigned to me, very handsome young man, comes back in and decides to see if I can stand up straight now. He's looking at me, I'm looking at him, and I said 'don't I know you?'<br /><br />He says "I thought you looked familiar ! Don't you work at ------?"<br /><br />me: "yes"<br /><br />handsome doctor guy: "Wow. I come through your line all the time! I'm so sorry to see you having this trouble."<br /><br />me: "well, I'll do anything to keep an eye on my customers."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And another friendship is sealed. He's young enough to be my son so its a mother kind of figure I represent. He reminds me that I used to praise him on his shopping and the fact that there was mostly good stuff on his list; as opposed to junk food.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">* </div>It is decided that I will be admitted because as soon as 4 hours goes by the fever comes back with a vengeance. It still doesn't hit 104 but they don't like that it went right back to 103.8. By now I'm on intravenous fluids and they have drawn a circle around the suspected area of my leg to see if the redness moves more. Apparently its a 'little' larger than they'd like it to be. Yes that was sarcasm, because the redness affected the whole back of my left calf!<br /><br />As an aside: I take a lot of medications because of heart issues, etc. I always carry a list with me of what I take and when I take it. It is so much easier than trying to explain it to the doctors/pharmacist/nurse, etc. I give them the list. The doctor is impressed that I have it with me and after asking if he can keep it, puts it in my file. I even brought all my meds with me as that is what I thought you do. Apparently they just want to see what you take and then they use their own drugs.<br /><br />Soooooo, some time during those first several hours, the pharmacist comes in and asks about the list. I explained how I take my meds and when. I showed her how the list is made up and explain what my notes mean.<br />'Can I keep this?'<br />(Its already part of my file so): "Sure."<br /><br /><br />I am sent for an x-ray and at about 5AM a bed is available and I am off on a trip to my room. Once there I am barely settled and they send me for another couple of tests. In the meantime, the fever has returned right on the 4 hour mark and more Tylenol is given. They have also got some results from blood tests and I am started on an IV antibiotic. My leg is still very, very sore. Painful in fact. Like 'I don't even want a sheet to touch my leg' painful.<br /><br />Then the highlight of that day ! ! ! They bring something on a tray, which I decide must be food of some sort. I'll tell you the liquid was something that smelled sort of like coffee, which I don't drink anyway. That's okay, not really that hungry. They did supply big glasses of water which, I'm sorry, tasted like city water. BLECCHHH.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div>(This is probably more than anyone wants to know about my adventure, but after all it is <b><i>my</i></b> blog! ! !)&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">End of today's story </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><br /><br /><br /><br />The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-20300887847248286352012-12-26T03:33:00.000-05:002012-12-26T03:49:07.473-05:00Well, where the heck have YOU been?I know, I know.<br /><br />I haven't written in months. A lot has happened to me since last I wrote, so I'll attempt to get you caught up.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;* * * * *</div><br />I guess I'll backtrack. First off, the end of July was very interesting in my life. The hubby's band was paying two gigs out on the East Coast; PEI and New Brunswick. I dropped him off at the airport, waited until they left and went home. At about 11:45 am, I sat down to have some lunch and suddenly got a chill. I thought it odd as it was bleeding hot outside. <br /><br />I'd had my ankles crossed, so I moved my legs, and upon doing so noticed my ankle was extremely painful. I put on a sweater coat and wrapped a blanket around me and still the teeth were chattering.<br /><br />I decided to go upstairs for a while. Upon reaching the second level I went to the bedroom where I sort of laid down/fell onto the bed. I tried to push myself up by the arms and just didn't have the strength. Later, I got up and went up to the loft, still not suspecting anything was too wrong. I noticed I was very dizzy and unsteady on my feet. I sat down to watch tv and noticed that it was about 4 or 5 hours later than it should have been??????<br /><br />Couldn't really register that as a problem other than it did stick in my mind. The phone rang and thinking it was my husband I got up to answer it. As I picked up the receiver I felt like someone had pulled the chair out from under me and over I go. Hit my head and several other places but still had the phone in my hand. I say hello. Now bear in mind that the person on the other end had to have heard the commotion as I went down. She says, "Hi, how are you?"<br /><br />I say not too good. I just fell.<br /><br />"Oh. Well, would you like to buy .........." at which point I sighed and said 'no'.<br /><br />I managed to get up and thought that for this I better go to the hospital. Off to the music room where the computer and a phone are. Get on the computer and write to my girlfriend to ask her if she could drive me to the hospital. It is now about eight at night and don't expect to hear from her right away as like me, she is an early riser which means an early to bed person as well. (As it later turned out she had been so tired that night she'd gone to bed early. She was very upset the next morning about missing the message.)<br /><br />As I am sitting at the computer feeling more and more befuddled, the phone rings again. Its my husband and when I tell him that I am going to take a cab to the hospital because of what's going on, he says he'll come home. I asked him to stay there and finish the trip and explained that I was pretty sure I'd be in the hospital where he couldn't do anything anyway.<br /><br />I called a cab and waited on the front porch for him. He was here in a few minutes and I was so glad to see him. He was kind enough to stop part way along to allow me to throw up. (THAT'S a nice cab driver.)<br /><br />I get to the hospital and take a number to wait. They get to me within five minutes and she takes my temp and asks come questions. I go back out to wait for some one to come get me, figuring it will be a while as there were three stretcher cases there. Well, I no sooner sat down than they called my name. I staggered over to the orderly and followed him to a room. I remember I had to hold the wall to feel secure in walking.<br /><br />He gets me in the room and then everything happened pretty fast. They actually helped me get my clothes off. I wrap myself in blankets as I am freezing again. They took my temp again and within moments this lady doctor comes in, says "there's part of the problem!" and proceeds to uncover me. "When you're <b>that</b> hot you only make it worse by covering up. You keep the heat in which we don't want."<br /><br />Maybe you don't, but I want to keep the cold out ! ! ! ! !&nbsp; I'm freakin' freezing here!<br /><br />And THAT was when I found out I had a temp of 103.8F ! ! ! ! ! !<br />Your brain doesn't function very well over 102 and at 104 you are only one degree away from heat stroke level ! ! ! ! !&nbsp; <br /><br />That's a long enough story for 3AM.<br /><br />More later.<br /><br />PS. Merry Belated Christmas :-)<br /><br /><br />The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-83514987525649807142012-04-03T10:33:00.001-04:002012-04-03T10:35:50.094-04:00"I thought you'd be home by 6:45 ? ? ? "Usually, I hear about the times we have problems with customers AFTER THE FACT. For some strange reason I have wanted to be there when one of these things go down.<br /><br />Well, I GOT my wish ! ! ! ! !<br /><br />Sunday afternoon, yet another new teen age employee, didn't show up for work so they called me in. I was just sitting down to watch a movie but when this chance came up, well . . . .<br /><br />When you are called in they have to guarantee you a minimum of 4 hours. The shift I was covering was 2:30 - 6:30 and I was going to make it to the store for about 3:30. As it was a call in and unexpected at that, I said I would just cover to the end of the original shift. Only three hours, but I'm okay with that. It is much easier on the knees.<br /><br />The day was fairly uneventful, and the pace was a little better than I have during the week as I was once again working with people who know how to work. Makes the job better. Plus when I get the 'over rush hour' slot it is very intense for about an hour an a half and there are seldom enough cashiers.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div>Okay, to the good (?) stuff:<br /><br />I have about 20 minutes left of my shift and a customer I know from a previous job is checking out at my register. He says to me 'you night want to call for help." I didn't know what he meant at first, except maybe that we needed more cashiers. Turns out he shows me this guy, that I never even noticed before, and he is kind of loud and talking to someone at the end of my line. My impression was that he was a little, okay a lot, inebriated. He then heads off over by bakery and the 'security' code comes over the speaker. I start to 'see' these people now, (too busy concentrating on my customer I guess) and there is our head cashier and a couple of the stock boys (men) asking this guy to leave. He wanted them to give him something for free 'for his girlfriend'. "Come on, just help me out here."<br /><br />Finally he takes the hint and goes. He stays by the front door for a while before they can get him out but he left peaceably enough.<br /><br />When the young man at the end of my line gets to me I asked him if the guy was hassling him, because my thought was to apologize for the incident. He says: 'no. . . . . . . . .he's my friend.'<br /><br />Okay, so I process the order, all is fine, he leaves and I move to the next customer. I also notice that the employees and security people are watching out the front door to see that he leaves and doesn't 'do' anything 'wrong' on the lot.<br /><br />A couple minutes later the noise outside changed a bit and we have the 'friend' outside our other door getting louder by the minute. He's trying to re-enter the store! By now, I have to punch out as I'm done, but they also need support on the front door. I saw two of our new employees, who just happened to be males of a decent size. Both over six feet tall and imposing looking. I asked them to go stand behind the head cashier to give her more weight in the situation. To make it a little more imposing. I go and punch out and then for some reason went back over to give moral support or to be of assistance or just to be nosy. I don't know, I just thought I could help.<br /><br />Well, the guy is inside the doors and just keeps asking, loudly, "<b>What did I do</b>?"<br /><br />It was explained to him several times that he needed to leave the store. They did not want him in there, he had paid for his items and he was upsetting the other customers. He at one point wanted to know why there were 'hassling' his friend and was again told that the 'friend' wasn't even here anymore. He kept up with the "<b>What DID I do</b>?" and then started to move towards the one employee. NOT the one you really want to mess with. Employee puts his hand on the guys shoulder to try to move him towards the door and the kid swings at him. Missed of course, but now he's got his back up. I suggested to head cashier that she get our guy to back off a little, which he did, just to give this guy his space.<br /><br />He was told numerous times that the police had been called and that now was the time to leave before they got here. Finally, the policeman comes in the store, takes him by the arm and walks him to the edge of the property. He promptly sits down with his feet in the parking lot as his way of protesting, I guess.<br /><br />Then the policeman walks back to his car. We wondered if that was it, but no. Another police car shows up and they meet between their cars and start getting gloves and hats on. Over to the kid they go (I say kid because my impression of him had been that he was a young college student). They each take an arm and head across the road with him but he immediately turned it into a dragging situation. They try to get him to stand, but he goes limp and falls down. They leave him there and start to walk back to the store when he gets up, grabs his shoes etc and goes back over and sits down in the same spot.&nbsp; This was where we thought something was going to happen.<br /><br />Well it sure did. The police come over and say something to him, he gets belligerent with them and they pick him up and start to walk him towards their cars.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>HE ACTUALLY TURNED AND SPAT ON THE COP ! ! ! ! ! !</b></u></div><br />Well, down to the ground he goes, two cops on top, he's fighting them, they have to subdue him, he's cursing, and grabbing, and they have to get a little physical. They get the cuffs on him, pick him up and at first we thought they had a glove over his face. Turned out it was his turtle neck sweater that they pulled up to prevent further spitting. They get him to the car, he's somehow getting this sweater off his face, they keep putting it back, he's bent over the rear of the car and still bitching. The cops are pretty calm and another car with two more cops show up. The kid is taken to the back of the other car, searched and <i>then</i> they try to put him in the back seat of the police car.<br /><br />I never saw anyone goes so straight and rigid before ! ! ! ! There are three policemen trying to get him in the car and they can't do it. I mean he might as well have been a concrete post. Took them probably 30 seconds to get him bent enough to get in the car.<br /><br />We thought he'd be the kind to bang his head on the glass etc., but he settled right down as soon as he was in the car. not another peep out of him. Hopefully that was when it hit him what he had just done. It went from a mere trespass sort of thing to a full on&nbsp; ASSAULT OF A POLICE OFFICER.<br /><br />Only a couple of us actually saw the spitting incident so we were asked to give eye witness statements. I shouldn't have punched out. I could have been paid for all that time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *&nbsp; </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And, that's why I'm home late, dear. </div>The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-67071087901131502972012-04-01T10:46:00.003-04:002012-04-01T10:57:43.463-04:00NOT an April Fool's Day joke ! ! ! ! !What, they don't think <b><i>we'd</i></b> know anything? <br /><br />Well, not only have they decided that we can't use our old order dividers, but they actually took them away from us ! ! ! !<br /><br />So they are forcing us to use these stupid things with the open bottoms. We've tried. They are useless. Sure they're <i>pretty</i> or what ever and I can honestly say I have had two (2) people comment on them. Most people are annoyed because they are too light, hard to stand up, even harder to slide back along the little lip we had, and they nestle. Which means that when you slide them along and then flip one down onto the belt to stop the evil eye that makes the belt move, they <b>all</b> fall down. That means they move along the belt with the groceries, they get caught on items much easier, and they are harder to see then the other ones. They blend in with the groceries. What could they have been thinking to make one that looks like a package of spaghetti? And how about one that looks like a honking great butchers knife. I've had more people think it was a real knife than have commented on the 'prettiness' of the other ones.<br /><br />Oh yeah, when they DO get caught on groceries, they can only slide so far because some brilliant scientist put a stop at the cashier end to stop the divider sliding out the end and stabbing the cashier in the ribs. Problem is, that when it can't move anymore the pressure now goes to the other end where what ever kind of grocery is hung up. If its bread you may get a ripped open bag.<br /><br />Also the belt obviously has to have a little space on both sides so that it can move freely along the track. Well guess what? The new dividers, having an open bottom on them, fit perfectly into that space. They get stuck and are not that easier to dislodge, especially if the belt has carried them along a little bit.<br /><br />Well, we had all figured out our own ways to deal with this latest dumb idea when someone comes along and starts screwing in all these upside down 'T's for these things to slide on. The principle is that the bottom portion of the T will allow them to just sit on top and not have a problem with us trying to get them into the previous track which was shaped like an upside down 'U'. But, you know what? I think you should have done a little measuring first! We have these little cases, about a 10" x 10" square, that hang right about the divider trough. They hold lottery tickets. There wasn't much clearance before but you could still get the dividers in because they were either square shaped or triangle shaped, all closed sides.<br /><br />There is not enough room to place these open bottomed ones they way we used to. Sort of as a task you could perform with out having to look at what you were doing. NOW, you have to physically stop what you're doing and look at it so that you can line it up. Not much of an effort you say?? No, its not. What it is, is friggin' annoying. You get into a flow running orders through and having to actually stop to place these stupid things is a royal pain in the sit upon.&nbsp; Its akin to having to stop when you want to blink your eyes and then telling your lids to go down and up. We do that so automatically, what would it be like if you had to stop and consciously do that every so many seconds?<br /><br />This is really a trivial thing to be writing about but it is just another one of the tiny little things that shouldn't be an issue for your job. We like to get things done. They are always after us to be faster and to watch that things aren't stolen. But now you want us to take those few seconds with darn near every order to line up a stupid advertisement? That happens at the same time I am checking the bottom of the buggy, or thanking a customer, or packing their groceries, or answering a question, or greeting the next customer.<br /><br />I just wish I worked somewhere that the employees were thought enough of to be asked their opinions on what would make the job easier.&nbsp; I think it would have given us the respect we deserve as we are the ones doing the actual job. WE know what our issues are with putting an order through.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I still love my job. <br /><br />And guess what??? It still doesn't stop those dividers from falling off the other side of the track and getting stuck behind the gum racks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So there ! ! ! !</span></div>The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-89038171162759715652012-03-19T08:08:00.001-04:002012-03-19T08:10:13.057-04:00SOME People I Work WithJust what it says in the title,<b> some</b> people I work with.<br /><br />I have worked with several young ladies that when they have left I have really missed them. They were good workers, nice to customers, had respect for my age and experience and found me easy to talk to.<br /><br />I don't exactly have a daughter. I have a son who I guess must be doing all right as he doesn't&nbsp; call anymore. I guess that's a good thing.<br /><br />SO, anyway, as much as I don't want kids around me 24/7 I do like dealing with the babies in the store and chatting with them. I also really enjoy the students, both high school and university level. They are an interesting bunch of people. You see some come through and leave you with the impression that they are just passing time at this school thing. Then there are others I hear come through and they're talking about some pretty serious subjects. Its annoying, really, because they aren't there long enough for me to talk with them about the subject they're interested in.<br /><br />One young man makes a point of going through my register the days that I am there and I asked him what he wants to study in university. He is going for history of the western world. I asked him if that will include the U.S. Civil War. He said he hopes so and I was interested in that! ! ! ! <br /><br />I am fascinated by that portion of American History and can never learn enough. But we only ever get about two sentences together. I'd love to pick his mind. Such a nice, polite, young man.<br /><br />Then there's the university one that came through and I found that he was studying genetics.<br />WHOAaaa.<br /><br />Another topic I am fascinated with. To the point that when I bred rabbits I was doing cross breeding to get the most meat on them. I had to keep two breeds of purebreds and then cross them to get first generation vigour. I'd end up with babies that grew pretty fast to killing weight in a decently short time, which is what most farmers are aiming for.<br /><br />I would have loved to talk 'turkey' with him.<br /><br />Then there is this one girl I work with. I have a great deal of affection for her and would love to have her as a life long friend. I would love it if I somehow had some influence on who she turns out to be. She has the coolest sense of humour and she talks to me not only as an equal but as a peer. <br /><br />We updated some electronics and she didn't have this device. So, as I now had a spare I gave it to her. She was all embarrassed about having it given to her, but pleased as well, and came up with some jokes about it to cover her delight.<br /><br />Doesn't fool me for a second. I don't know that I 'love' her but I sure as heck like her a whole lot. She is like the daughter I never had.<br /><br />I love to bake and hardly a week goes by that I am not taking some kind of treat into work. Well, I found out that she <u><b><i>LOVES</i></b></u> coconut macaroons. I had this new recipe I tried and she fell in love with it. So I made her a batch of her own and the next thing I know she is wanting to pay for ingredients. <br /><br />How neat is that. She is such a responsible young lady and I adore her. It will break my heart when it comes time for her to move on. I've had other people around here that I have missed terribly, but she's different. She has the quirkiest sense of humour.<br /><br />And quick!!!!???<br /><br />Anyway, sorry Happy Girl and Smart Girl. But I don't hear from you anymore even though I still have the silly notes you wrote me stuck to my fridge. As I was saying, sorry, but you've been replaced in that little space in my heart. (yes, I actually have a heart)<br /><br />Okay, not replaced, but definitely shoved to towards the back.<br /><br />Later, all ! ! ! ! !The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-61948481671331395672012-02-26T15:45:00.000-05:002012-02-26T15:45:07.638-05:00Opinions neededI have a new bag and was thinking of showing it off by reading a couple of blogs aloud and posting them on YouTube.<br /><br />That doesn't mean I won't keep writing. I prefer that method. Its a little less work. And I don't have to worry if the bag isn't ironed.The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-64106096741438657702012-02-26T10:31:00.001-05:002012-02-26T10:33:03.239-05:00A promotion of sortsNot me.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, promotions are nice. Its empowering to know that someone thinks you are good enough to move up in job status or pay grade or whatever.<br /><br />Being a 'lowly' cashier suits me to a ' T '. I'd like to, at times, be a 'customer service' person dealing with lottery, till balances, counting money, etc.<br /><br />BUT . . . .<br />I <b>AM</b> a customer service person in that I am one of the last people the customer sees and the last one they deal with in the store. I have to leave a good impression. The customer remembers that. They remember someone that was concerned for them, cared enough to pack the groceries well, made sure the bags weren't too heavy if its an older person. You know, important stuff like that. Sometimes being pleasant is all they need.<br /><br />You have to be able to read people. You have to know if they need chatter or quiet. You must not force your opinions on them or try to force them into something they don't want. You have to be able to tell which ones are in the kind of mood to linger a little or to get out fast. You have to look down the line as well, to see who you have coming. I know which of my customers want 'double bags on everything' or need lots of bags with little in them, or, unfortunately, know the one that tries to steal things. I haven't seen her since she overheard me warn a newer cashier to keep on their toes around her. She has tried to steal something <b>every</b> time I have dealt with her. The problem is she's not good at it.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><br />So, anyway, the Promotion goes to . . . . . . <br />The Diva !<br /><br />She is now known as The Prima Donna.<br /><br />This woman has or is trying to take over everything. I mean knowing how to do lots of stuff is good, but telling people when they can go on break, doing lottery, telling an employee they can get through the line before customers, pushing around co-workers with more seniority?&nbsp; <br /><br />I'm older than most of them there, but I also recognize when someone that's young enough to be my <b>GRAND</b>daughter is also the person in charge that night. I mean come on, I COULD send them to bed without supper, but they show me the respect I deserve for my age, because I show them respect for their authority.&nbsp; And for that matter you can't push around people with less seniority TOO much because you are NOT THE BOSS that night. If the customer service/head cashier tells you do to something then, damn it, do<b> what</b> you're told, <b>when</b> you're told.<br /><br />The Prima Donna is developing a reputation amongst her peers for being rude, bossy, loud, grating, pushy, etc.<br /><br />And, when you are running the express aisle you HAVE to realize that, even though we are supposed to push our new program, you must know when the customer is NOT in a receptive mode. Yes we want them to use the 'program' but more important is the fact of getting them home. We want their last thought to be "boy, I got through fast, finally the day is done, supper soon" NOT "why didn't that person shut up and do her job so I can get home."<br /><br />I have had people come over to <i>my </i>aisle because even though I'm doing larger orders I am confining my talk to what I can get done WHILE doing the order. Oh sure, I have some customers where the conversation carries over to the next person in line, but I am not ignoring that next person. AND I apologize to them for the delay. I also leave them with some kind of pleasant comment, even if its only "you have a great evening".<br /><br />AND I made several people happy last week, even though they were in a hurry, by stopping and giving one woman a hug because she had just lost her mother and was suddenly missing her. They all commented on what a 'nice thing" I had done.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So, apparently I think I'm wonderful and she's not.<br /><br />She <i><b>is</b></i> a nice person on a personal basis, but just too plain bossy and know-it-all-ish in the work experiences I have had or have witnessed or, worse, <b>heard</b> about from other employees and customers.<br /><br />So that's my 37cents worth for today.The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-55632235067426096192012-01-17T15:02:00.000-05:002012-01-17T15:02:26.247-05:00And Furthermore . . . .Also at work yesterday I had one of my regular customers come in and we started talking. She was telling me about going to 'the enemy' across the highway. We got to talking about cashiers and things and she told me about the attitude they have there. Being one who is concerned about customer service I had to hear more.<br /><br />Turns out she was in there, with her own bags, and a fairly large order, the cashier rings stuff up, barely acknowledges her and just keeps piling groceries up at the end. My customer was trying to bag it, but is used to us doing it.<br /><br />Sidebar: When we started charging for bags and accepting customer supplied bags it was, and still is, our policy to pack the customers groceries. Unless they don't want us to. Nothing changed because we were charging or because they supplied bags.<br /><br />Back to the story:<br /><br />My customer was falling behind and then the cashier turns to her and asks if its debit or credit. Arms folded across her chest, looking at her like how come she's not finished already. Then after the cashier processes the order, she is making it clear that the customer is now in <i>her way</i>. After all, there is another customer she can be rude to.&nbsp; ZING !<br /><br />The cashier did not even ask if she could help her at all. I do that when customers are bagging their own groceries. I also try hard to be polite to people that insist on doing it themselves and are holding me up. In that situation I try to move their groceries to the side so I can continue on. But I always offer to help.<br /><br />I can not believe that they do not bag your groceries. And yet people still go there. I hear comments about how rude they are. I know from experience that they don't treat you very well when you bring returns. Granted that could have changed in the many years since I stopped shopping there. But none the less, its kept me from going back there.<br /><br />Oh, I have occasionally stopped in when i am looking for a certain product or something. But 99% of the time I can not find what I want. They seem to have a lot of groceries and products etc, but they do not have a variety of sizes. I have often looked for a large size of peanut butter or the large decaffeinated tea. Never find it. They have a lot of their store brand stuff. A LOT of it. I have yet to be impressed with any of them.<br /><br />And, I've had customers tell me that we are more expensive than them. Maybe that's true on what <i>they</i> buy, but on what <i>I </i>buy, sorry. Wrong.<br /><br />There are two things that will tick me off, though. People that ask me to bag for them,&nbsp; then proceed to rearrange everything when I'm done.<br /><br />AND, people that are packed and ready to leave but hold up my job because they have to get their mittens on, or a scarf just so, or yap on the phone. Get out of my way. Have you no consideration? There is usually an empty register next to me, and if not there are always the cases of water along the front. You could actually put your stuff there and get ready to leave. That way you aren't holding anyone up.The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-27263358000596869072012-01-17T11:22:00.004-05:002012-01-17T12:56:43.475-05:00Who the hell is in charge down thereWe have these plastic triangle shaped dividers that we use between customers orders. We then know where theirs ends and the next one begins. Pretty simple design. As I said its a triangle and closed on all sides. That 's good, because as you start an order you need to be able to get that picked up, put in the slot and give it a quick push for the next customer to grab.<br /><br />The slot is just a small, long tray, I guess, just wide enough for the divider. The slot also has two walls on it of about 3/8" in height.<br /><br />Sooooo. Someone at the divider making company sold some advertising to an online bank and we got these terrible open bottomed dividers. Plus they have some kind of cut out shapes in the top. You can sort of see it in the first photo, to the left of the black one. Anyway, when you grab it and try to put it away it usually catches on one of the outsides of the slot's tray. You have to stop and fiddle with it to make sure you can get it in there.<br /><br />The more savvy of us last week, tried them for a little while and determined what a dumb idea that was. They were slowing us up so much that we traded them out for the old ones. <br /><br />I show up at work yesterday, and we have the first ones back and some other new ones, again open bottomed, cut out tops, and our old ones are in hiding somewhere. These second ones came from the OLG, Ontario Lottery And Gaming Corporation. <span style="background-color: yellow;">They are NOT provided by our store</span>. The OLG can come in with their signs etc and change the advertising, as we are a selling agent for them. I think the <i>bank</i> had to ask us to put them up but <i>NOT</i> the OLG. I kept two of them, even though I would have preferred to not use them at all. But customers really do like to have them. A few hours into the shift, there was a gap between two people and I got a good look down my belt. I mean the dividers are annoying and all but I didn't <b><i>study</i></b>&nbsp; them when I got to work. Anyway, in front of the second order is this new divider and it suddenly hit me what was wrong about the thing.&nbsp; Have a look at this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-in5qHke77vM/TxW1RMGN74I/AAAAAAAAAEA/1ruqLAeUZoI/s1600/IMG-20120116-00133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-in5qHke77vM/TxW1RMGN74I/AAAAAAAAAEA/1ruqLAeUZoI/s320/IMG-20120116-00133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8wWpP8elmw/TxWfTaguMOI/AAAAAAAAAD4/M_H0bDKvnFQ/s1600/DSCF0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8wWpP8elmw/TxWfTaguMOI/AAAAAAAAAD4/M_H0bDKvnFQ/s320/DSCF0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It was the second picture that made the image show so bright in my mind. What were these people thinking? Have they never heard of World War 2? Hitler? Nazis? Auschwitz?<br /><br />For a stupid lottery?<br /><br />I don't know which is worse. The person that designed this or the person that approved it.<br /><br />If I was the schmuck that had anything to do with this campaign, I'd make sure I had somewhere else to be for the next several months.The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216994423584194434.post-46623743122917362012012-01-02T10:05:00.003-05:002012-01-02T15:14:32.547-05:00What ? ? ? ? ?Okay, I was on express the other day. That means you pretty well deal with just customers. You also keep an eye on customer service and page for lottery or Western Union or what ever. But you don't wander away and do baskets or things like that.<br /><br />Anyway, this lady comes over to me with a small soup container and says she wants a large soup. I said that if there aren't any there we are probably out of them. I&nbsp; also said I don't have any containers but if you ask at hot foods they should be able to assist you. She looks at me like I am totally weird and extremely rude for not helping her RIGHT NOW. And why the hell DON'T I have the containers at my register?<br /><br />She goes over to the counter and asks and is told that we are indeed out of the large. So she takes two small ones and complains to me that her friend asked her to pick up a large. I said well at least this way she has more soup and I'm sure she'll appreciate you getting it for her. I asked if she needed a bag and she said no. So I finished her order and she then says 'I need a bag.' All righty then. You have a great day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div>Two days in a row I had the same register. That doesn't happen often but it was nice because it was still set up the way I like it.&nbsp; It means I was able to get down to business right away.<br /><br />The second day the Diva was already there. She is annoying in that she seems to me that she can really set people's teeth on edge. I don't know how to describe it, other than she seems to ask questions in an argumentative (?) sort of way. One customer was obviously hard of hearing and had a hearing aid that you could see.&nbsp; She asks him, quietly, if he needs bags. He didn't hear her. So she asks him again, but also spots the bag he's carrying in his hand. At the same time he had turned and asked her what she said.&nbsp; She says 'never mind.'&nbsp; He said 'what'&nbsp; in a surprised tone. Again she says 'never mind'. He looks a little surprised so she tells him 'I asked you if you needed bags, but now I can see you don't.'<br /><br />Maybe you had to be there, but it just seemed kind of rude, somehow. I just don't think that is the way to address an older person, whether they tick you off or not.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><br />A little while later she sees that this customer has their own bags. She asks if they would like her to bag for them. They say no thanks and she proceeds with the order. Within a few minutes she is telling them that she'd be happy to bag. They, again say no, but she now tells them that she can do a better job. Well, maybe you can, but you don't imply that a customer is doing a lousy job when they think that they are being helpful or that they just want to do their own packing. I will wait and if I think they could have done it better I'll ask if I can give them a little suggestion.<br /><br />Some people are not aware that even though we have switched to bags you pay for or that they bring themselves, we are still expected to do the packing for them. It doesn't absolve us of our duty as cashiers. The customer is spending good money. They are entitled to good service.<br /><br />Another store in our area, from what I've been told by customers, just put the bags at the end for you and proceed to the next order. I think our store has an opportunity to capitalize on the fact that we still do the bagging. We need to go back to some of the old values.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><br />The last thing The Diva did was, in my opinion, childish. There had been some kind of words between her and the customer and it was the tone that made me tune in. I hear her telling the customer that she has to scratch the 'thank you' sticker off the bag she just bought. She's making it very clear that this is a chore. She then asked me what my nails were like so maybe I could peel this label off. Yet, she doesn't offer me the bag to work on.&nbsp; She also has another customer in line. I said to her what's wrong? She said 'I have to void it off'.<br />Okay, just void off a different one and move on. I offered her one of my not sold yet bags to just scan the code. 'No it has to be this one. I just can't get the sticker off enough' . When I again said I have a bag you could use, she just glared at me. Then why am I even being brought into this? <br /><br />She finally gets that done and then at payment time, waits until the woman inserts the card too soon before telling her she had to wait for the message. The procedure of setting the machine up now has to be repeated. And she tells her customer that in a condescending tone. <br /><br />She, The Diva, gave me the impression she was cruising for a fight. Later she told me she was trying to make a point with this lady. While she was doing all this the customer was&nbsp; fiddling around in her purse, or checking her phone or otherwise occupied and not the least concerned with her grocery purchase. So the customer was totally unaware of the 'lesson' she was being taught, anyway.<br /><br />The result was a confused cashier, (me), a customer made to wait unnecessarily, (next one in line), an oblivious to the world customer, (purse fiddler) and a cashier leaving a bad impression, (Diva).<br /><br />Pick your battles, Diva!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And lastly, seeing that I worked New Years Eve, (yeah I know it was only the four hours over lunch, but it <i>was</i> New Years Eve,) I stopped at the dollar store and treated myself to some foil hats PLUS noisy horns. I started out the day with the hat on, but it was held with an elastic and by the second customer it let go at one end and smacked me hard right under my eye. In the garbage with the BAD hat. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So I just used my horn. Not on every customer, but almost. As they came to the register I wished them a Happy New Year and tooted the horn. I got a smile from nearly every customer and a laugh from several. I had such a fun time at work Saturday. Most of my customers did as well. I even, at one point, had three people in line while the cashiers on either side had none.I guess they just want to experience the party that is me sometimes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Makes you glad to do your job and think that you are worth something.</div>The Unknown Cashierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749052291730908384noreply@blogger.com1